The provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions are the subject of this analysis. The bill would amend the Penal Code by creating the offense of cargo theft. Under the provisions of the bill, cargo theft would be punishable at most felony degrees, with the punishment degree based on the specific circumstances of the offense. The bill would also provide for punishment to be enhanced to the next higher category in certain circumstances. 

A first degree felony is punishable by confinement in prison for life or five to 99 years, a second degree felony for two to 20 years, a third degree felony for two to ten years, and a state jail felony is punishable by confinement in a state jail for 180 days to two years. In addition to confinement certain felony level offenses are subject to an optional fine not to exceed $10,000.

Creating an offense is expected to increase demands on state correctional resources by increasing the number of offenders eligible for placement under felony supervision and confinement in state correctional facilities. This analysis assumes implementing the provisions of the bill would not result in a significant impact on state correctional populations, programs, or workloads.